Upper-protector.



J. H. RAMER.

UPPER PROTECTOR.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 25, 1912.

1,094,01 6, Patented Apr. 21-, 1914.

Fig.1.

JOHN H. RAMER, OF LOVELAND, COLORADO.

UPPER-PROTECTOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 21, 1914.

Application filed May 2-5, 1912. Serial No. 699,768.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN H. RAMER, a

citizen of the United States, resident of Loveland, in the county of Larimer and State of Colorado, have made a certain new and useful Invention in Upper-Protectors; and I declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the in vention, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters or figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification. I

Figure 1 is a side view of a shoe having my invention applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal section of the toe portion of a shoe having the invention applied thereto. Figs. 3 and 4 are detail plan and edge views of the blank. Figs. 5 and 6 are side and top plan views of the toe brace bent into form from said blank. Figs. 7 and 8 are side and top plan views of the counter brace bent into form from said blank.

The invention has relation to means for protecting the shoes of children and others from injury or distortion in those portions which lie just above the sole, and it consists in the novel construction and combination of parts, as hereinafter described.

The object is to provide a pliable brace, stiffener or protector, which is designed to be shaped to the shoe by the shoemaker by hand, from a fiat blank intovarious forms, according to the parts to be protected or braced, as will more fully hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings the numeral 2 represents a shoe, having the upper 3, the counter 4, the heel 5 and the sole 6.

7 indicates the brace or stiffener, which is made of malleable iron or other metal which is sufficiently pliable to be bent a little without breaking and is nevertheless rigid enough to hold its position against the pressure of the foot, as well as against casual impact of exterior objects. This brace consists of a head 8, having opposite lateral extensions provided with free lower edges 8,

a neck portion 9 and a tang portion 10, these parts being formed entire from a blank indicated at 11, the tang having a straight transverse joint connection 11 with the neck. The general shape of the article is T-form, the head being substantially upright and the stem or tang horizontal or nearly so and having an obtuse angle relation to the neck and head, as indicated in the drawings, Figs. 7 and 8 for a counter brace. Or, as shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7, the tang may have an acute angle relation to the head and neck, when the device is used as a toe brace and protector, the neck 9 being of less height and the head having greater convexity for the toe brace than for the counter brace, the pliability of the parts being sufficient to admit of these modifications.

The device is shaped into form from the blank by hand, to fit the parts of the shoe to which it is applied, the tang being provided with a series of perforations 12.

In applying the device as a counter brace, the heel is pried off and the tang is tacked on the welt in the proper position, after which the heel is driven back on the shoe. The attachment to the side or toe of the shoe is made in a similar way, being usually secured between the upper and the sole or between the upper and lower sole leathers.

The pliability of the metal is designed to be suflioient to provide for such slight modifications of shape of the body portion as may be required to fit snugly against the round of the upper or of the toe. The angular tang, being directed obliquely backward in its fiat portion, is in position to hold the device securely against shocks arising from contact with exterior objects in walking, and to prevent it from being easily pulled away or detached from the shoe. It is also designed to allow the device to yield a little in accord ance with the lateral movements of the sole, so that the pressure will not be unduly rigid and harsh.

WVhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is A shoe having in combination therewith a metal protector comprising a narrow fiat tang extending intermediate the upper and a In testimony whereof I affix my signature, tread meipber and sficured to such menflber, in presence of two Witnesses.

an imper orate nee portion arising rom such tang, and carrying on each side thereof JOHN RAMER' an arm contacting throughout substantially I its entire inner surface with the outside of I that portion of the upper opposite to it. i

Witnesses J oHN D. KELLY, R. R. FOUNTAIN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

